Shockproof head for x-ray apparatus



Sept. 16, 1952 E. R. GOLDFIELD ETAL 2,611,095

' sHocxPRooF HEAD FOR x-RAY APPARATUS Filed Aug. 51, 1949 2 smETsf-SHEET 1 IN ENTOR. 2 EDw//v R @wf/.fw

E. R. GOLDFIELD ET AL 2,6l,095

SHOCKPROOF HEAD FOR X-RAY APPARATUS Sept. 16, 1952 2 SHEETS- SHEET 2 Filed Aug. 51, 1949 am 2W k @am Patentecl Sept. 16, 1952 SHOGKPROOF HEADFOR X-RAY APPARATUS Edwin R. Goldiield, University Heights, and Edwardv B. Graves, South Euclid, Ohio, assignors to Picker X-Ray Corporation, Waite Manufacturing Divison, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application August 31, 1949, Serial No. 113,343

rlhis invention relates. tov improvements in housings for X-ray tubes,v and particularly to a housing which contains the transformer, as well as the tube, and which embodies a unit that is mounted for pivotal movement with respect to a supporting arm.

One of the difficulties encountered in the manufacture of an X-ray tube housing which has the transformer and'v tube mounted. as a unitary construction therein has been the relatively low ratio of radiation output per. pound of weight. This has been due inherently to the fact that the weight must be kept sufficiently low to permit movement of the head with respect to the support. A relatively low weight, however, diminishes the radiation power of the Xray tube.

An object of the present invention therefore is to construct an X-ray tube head which is sufficiently compact as to increase the relative ratio of radiation output per pound of weight, and which had adequate space for the component parts. An additional object is to provide adequate cooling of the` X-ray tube with a minimum amountV ofV fluid, and at the same time to obtain a construction which is attractive in appearance.

Referring now to ther drawings, Fig. l is a vertical section taken longitudinally through an X-ray tube head embodying the present invention; Fig. i?.` is a perspective view of the. head mounted in a supporting bracket; Fig. 3 is a section taken on a plane indicated by the line 3--3 in Fig. l; Fig. 4 is an end view of the head taken from the end indicated by the line 4 4 in Fig. 1; Fig. 5V is an exploded perspective view illustrating a part of the assembly; Fig. 6 isa fragmentary sectional View showing a modified construction.

In the drawing, the invention is shown as a unit which includes a liquid tight shell or housingv comprising an upper section Ill and a lower section II, each ofV which is substantially semielliptical in cross-sectional shape. The upper section has flanges I2 and I3 (Fig. 3), while the lower section has flanges I4 and I5 extending longitudinally of theunitv and outwardly therefrom. Similarly, the end portions of the upper section have flanges I'I` and I1 while the end portions ofthe lower section have flanges I8 and I9 respectively. All of the flanges of the lower section liein the same plane, whereas the end portions of' the end flanges or the upper section lie inthe sameplane as the longitudinal flanges, but the mid-portions of the end flanges are arched as is shown. in. Fig. 5.

The, housing sections are assembled upon a core 25 I of the main transformer and in such 7V claims. (o1. aisesri manner as to hold the transformer core laminations securely clamped together without the need for extraneous clamping means. A preferred form of apparatus for clamping the sections together embodies a band 26 which extends around the core and is engaged by the respective flanges of the upper and lower sections. As shown in Fig. 3 each flange is bent near its marginal edges outwardly away from the core and thence inwardly so as to provide a recess into which an edge portion of the band may extend. Thereupon the edge portions of the respective flanges are soldered or brazed to the band so as to effect a tight joint against the transformer core and also to obtain a fluidA tight casing.

The core 25 is shown as a shell type having coils 23 and 23 on the central leg 21 thereof which occupy substantially all of the central portion of the housing. Within the chamber above the coils and in close fittingl engagement with the curved walls of the upper section is a plate 30 which extends forr substantially the full length of the section, and which may have anges 3| and 32 that extend outwardly along the lower longitudinal edges and are disposed between the core and the respective flanges I2 and I3 of the upper section. The curved plate 33 provides a support for a filament transformer having a core 33 and coils 34 and also provides a support for an expansible bellows 35. The bellows has one end 36 sealed but has the other end 31 open to the atmosphere through an opening in an end wall of the section I0.

The chamber within the lower section beneath the transformer coils 28 and 29 is occupied by the X-ray tube which is indicated atA 4d as being positioned within a cylindrical X-ray proof insulating shield or casing 4I which, in turn, is suitably fastened to the shell. A preferred form of such fastening includes ears 42V which extend outwardly from the casing and which are adapted to engage anges 43 on a curved supporting plate 44. Such plate is rigidly fastened, as by soldering, to the shell and has an aperture in its lower central portion for receiving an inverted cup-shaped member 45 which is intern naliy threaded and is adapted to receive a transparent plate window member 416. The member lio may be drawn tightly against the gasket 41 so` as to maintain a liquid tight seal within the housing. An outer guide 48 surrounds the opening and serves as an additional medium for confining the rays.

Access to the interior of the housing for intrunnions which, in Fig. 1, are 'shown as cupshaped members 55 and 56 that arefastened by securing members l and 58 respectively tothe i band 2t. The bearing members extend into corresponding apertures in the arms 60 of the yoke 2t and are held in place by cap plates El in such manner as to permit an oscillating movement of the head with respect tothe yoke.

Fig. 6 shows a modification of the invention wherein provision is made for dissipating the heat developed upon operation of the X-ray tube. This may be accomplished by mounting a motor driven impeller 'IB within a casing il which is attached to the housing, Preferably to the bottom section li thereof and on the end opposite the opening 5t. The housing may then be filled with liquid through an opening in the plate 5l which is closable by a plug i5, and the arrangement is such that upon operation of the impeller the liquid will be made in the direction indicated byv the arrows in Fig. 6 and thus circulated throughout the interior of the housing.

An important advantage of the present invention is the compactness of the head as [weil as the relatively high ratio of radiation output per pound of weight. Bymounting the main transformer at the central portion of the housing the core laminations can be securely clamped together by means of the band which Vis utilized for making the joint between the upper and lower sections. There is thus adequate space above the transformer for the filament transformer, as well as the expansible bellows, and there AisV ample space beneath the main transformer for the reception of the X-ray tube.

rWe claim:

i. An X-ray tube head comprising in combination, a transformer core of the shell type having a central leg, a pair of transformer coils positioned on said central leg, a pair of hollow sheet metal members each having an open end with outwardly extending marginal flanges adapted to bear in abutting relation against opposite marginal edges of said core, a band extending around the core respectively and means for sealing the bandto the flanges so as to provide a leak proof housing, trunnion members attached to the band at opposite ends of the core, said housing sections each being substantially semi-elliptical in cross sectional shape and having chambers therein above and below said transformer coils, a tubular member within one of said chambers and adapted to receive an X-ray tube, and a filament transformer andan expansiole beilows occupying the other of said chambers. Y

2. An X-ray tube head comprising in cornbination, a pairof hollow half-sections each having an open end with marginal .outwardly extending dange portionsa main transformer core positioned between saidhollow sections and having a dimension in the plane of said marginal flange portions greater than the open end of said halfsections, means clamping said respective flange portions in abutting relation to adjacent marginal edges of said core to provide a huid-tight housing therefor, transformer coils on said core within the housing, a receptacle positioned in said housing at one side of the transformer coils adapted to receive an X-ray tube, said lower section having an opening in registration with the receptacle suii'iciently large to pass an X-ray tube, removable means for sealing said opening, and a filament transformer positioned in the housing on the opposite side of said transformer coils.

3. An X-ray tube head comprising in combination, a pair of haii-shell sections each having an open end with marginal outwardly extending ange portions, a transformer core, a pair of transformer coils mounted on said core, said core and coils positioned between the respective open ends of said .half-shell sections and having a dimension in the plane of said flange portions greater than the open ends of said half-shell sections, means clamping said respective flange portions in abutting relation to adjacent marginal edges of the core to provide a fluid-tight housing' therefor and forming chambers above and below the transformer coils, means in one of said chambers inciuding an opening through the lchamber adapted for removably receiving and supporting an X-ray tube therein, means for sealing the opening, and the other of said chambers having a lament transformer and an expansible bellows mounted therein.

e. An X-ray tube head comprising in combination, a transformer core, upper and lower hollow half sections each having a substantially semi-elliptical cross-sectional shape and each having an open end with marginal outwardly extending anges, a band embraced by portions of said flanges and extending around the marginal edge ofsaid core normal to said ange portions, saidhand coacting with said ange portions to ciamp said respective flange portions in abutting relation to adjacent marginal edges of said transformer core to provide a fluid-tight housing therefor, transformery coils on said core within the housing, said housing having chambers above and below the transformer-coils, a filament transformer and an expansibie member carried by the upper section and occupying one of said chambers,

` an X-ray tube receptacle occupying the other chamber, said lower section having an opening in registration with the receptacle through which X-ray tube may be inserted into or withdrawn i from said receptacle, and means for sealing said opening.

5. An .T-ray tube head comprising two hollow half-sections, each of said sections having an open end with marginal outwardly extending hnge portions, a transformer core disposed between the respective open ends of said halfsections and having a dimension in the plane of said flange portions greater than the respective open ends of said sections, means. clamping said respective iiange portions in abutting relation'to adjacent marginal edges of said core to secure the half-sections thereto and to provide a fluid-tight housing therefor, transformer coils on said core, supporting plates in contiguous engagement with the inner walls of 'said respective half-sections, a tubular receptacle mounted upon one of said piates adapted to receive an X-ray tube within one section, an opening through said one section adapted to pass an YI-ray tube into said receptacle, means for sealing the opening, an expansible device carried bythe other of said plates in the other section, and a filament transformer mounted in one of said sections.

6. An X-ray tube head comprising'in combination-'ga pair of-hol1owV lhalf-sections having a substantially semi-elliptical cross-sectional shape, each ofsaid half-sections having an open end with outwardly extending marginal flange portions, a main transformer core and coils centrally positioned between the open ends of said hollow sections and having a dimension in the plane of said flange portions greater than the open ends of said sections, means securely clamping said respective flange portions in abutting relation to adjacent marginal edges of said transformer core to provide a fluid-tight housing therefor, trunnions on said housing adjacent opposite ends of said core, said housing having chambers above and below the transformer, an X-ray tube supported in one of said chambers, said tube supporting chamber having normally sealed means providing access to said X-ray tube, a filament transformer occupying another of said chambers, said housing having a liquid therein, and impeller means in one of said sections for circulating said liquid.

7. An X-ray tube head comprising in combination, a pair of complementary hollow halfsections adapted to coact to form a housing, each of said hollow half-sections having an open end with marginal outwardly extending flange portions, a main transformer core and coils centrally positioned between the open ends of said respective half-sections, said core having a dimension in the plane of said flange portions greater than the opening in said half-sections, a band embraced by portions of said flanges normal thereto and extending around the marginal edge of said core, said band and flange portions coacting to securely clamp the respective flange portions to adjacent marginal edges of said core to provide a fluid-tight housing therefor, said housing having chambers above and below the transformer, a filament transformer occupying one of said chambers, an X-ray tube removably supported in the other of said chambers, and means effecting an automatic connection between said X-ray tube and said transformers consequent upon positioning the tube within the chamber.

EDWIN R. GOLDFIELD.

EDWARD B. GRAVES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,973,415 Mutscheller Sept. 11, 1934 1,984,277 Morrison Dec. 11, 1934 1,987,790 Mutscheller Jan. 15, 1935 2,019,362 Schnitzer Oct. 29, 1935 2,043,237 Verhoeff July 21, 1936 2,081,077 Wantz May 18, 1937 2,086,045 Pieper July 6, 1937 2,121,630 Gross et al June 21, 1938 2,170,933 Werner Aug. 29, 1939 2,194,369 Simon Mar. 19, 1940 2,230,176 Bouwers et al Jan. 28, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 703,037 France Apr. 22, 1931 

